The South African Mountain Accident Database, which provides records dating back to 1653, the figure is actually 251.

This figure doesn’t include incidents on the lower parts of the mountain, nor deaths as a result of a crime. Most of the 251 deaths were as a result of falls, rock falls and medical problems.

That’s lower than the 288 deaths recorded at Mount Everest, but only above 5000m. This figure comes from the Himalayan Database, which has thoroughly recorded ever expedition since 1905, but only select expeditions before that year.

According to Andrew Lewis, who is the current curator for the South African Mountain Database, the figure is utterly meaningless.

In the article on Africa Check, he goes on to state that it is very likely that the answer may be time-dependent, being true in some years and false in others.”

He also states that it would be more indicative if there was a death rate for both mountains. That would be the number of people that have gone up and died, but for that to work, there would have to be accurate numbers for people going up Table Mountain. Since Table Mountain can be relatively easily accessed, this is impossible to know.